Kerf-cutting machine



April 19, 1938. w. w. SLOANE KERF CUTTING MACHINE Original Filed Nov..l, 1935 3 SheetsSheet 1 APril 1938- w. w. SLOANE 2,114,361

KERF CUTTING MACHINE Original Filed Nov. 1, 1955 '5 Sheets-Sheet 2 WWII/ll mum m April 19, 1938. w. w. SLOANE 2,114,361

I KERF CUTTING MACHINE Original Filed Nov. 1 1935 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 flfz'zfzasj: I Mi 0 5 M Patented Apr. 19, 1938 UNITED STATES KERF- CUTTING MACHINE William W. Sloane, Chicago, Ill., assignor to Goodman Manufacturing Company, Chicago, 111., a corporation of Illinois Application November 1, 1935, Serial No. 47,832

Renewed August 27, 1937 20 Claims.

My invention relates to improvements in kerfcutting machines and more particularly to improvements in a track-mounted machine of the type adapted to cut a kerf along the mine bottom '5 or at various elevations with respect thereto.

The principal object of this invention is to minimize the binding between the guides in track-mounted kerf-cutting machines of the bottom cutting type wherein the cutter bar is mounted on a frame which is guided in a pair of parallel-spaced guides disposed adjacent the rearward end of said frame and is vertically moved in said guides by means of an adjusting screw disposed adjacent the forward end of said frame. This tendency toward binding is especially noted where the adjusting screw is disposed a considerable distance ahead of the guides or where the weight of the parts on the movable frame is unequally distributed with respect to the center of the adjusting screw and guides.

In carrying out my invention, means are provided for holding the frames in parallel relation with respect to each other during the adjusting operation and equally distributing the weight of the cutter bar and supporting parts therefor between the guides and adjusting screw in a simple and efficient manner.

Other objects of my invention will appear from time to time as the following specification proceeds.

My invention may be more clearly understood with reference to the accompanying drawings wherein:

Figure l is a fragmentary top plan view of the forward portion of a track-mounted mining machine of the bottom-cutting type illustrating one form of my invention;

Figure 2 is a fragmentary sectional view taken substantially along line 2-2 of Figure 1;

Figure 3 is a fragmentary sectional view taken substantially along line 33 of Figure 1;

Figure 4 is a fragmentary sectional view taken substantially along line 44 of Figure 1;

Figure 5 is a diagrammatic view showing the position of the operating parts of my invention on one side of the machine when the cutter bar is in one extreme position of adjustment;

Figure 6 is a diagrammatic view similar to 0 Figure 5 but showing the position of the parts when the cutter bar is in its other extreme position of adjustment;

Figure 7 is a diagrammatic View similar to Figure 5 with the cutter bar in the same extreme 55 position of adjustment as in Figure 5, but showing the opposite side of the machine than is in Figure 5; and

Figure 8 is a diagrammatic view showing the same side of the machine as in Figure 7, and showing the cutter bar in the same extreme position shown in Figure 6.

My invention, as illustrated in the drawings, is shown as being embodied in a track-mounted mining machine of the bottom cutting type of a construction similar to that shown in a prior application, Serial No. 749,345, filed by William T. McCullough, October 22, 1934, and will only herein be shown and described insofar as is necessary to clearly illustrate my present inven tion.

Said mining machine includes a track-mounted truck It having a turntable H pivotally mounted thereon adjacent the forward end thereof. Said turntable is turned by power by suitable mechanism disposed at the rearward end of the truck for feeding the'cutter bar across the face of the coal in a usual manner, which is not herein shown or described since it is no portion of my present invention. A pair of trunnion supports 52, I2 are mounted on and extend forwardly of said turntable and form a transverse pivotal support for a frame E3 of a cutting element M. Said frame has a motor l5 secured to and extending rearwardly therefrom and has a cutter'bar I6 projecting forwardly therefrom and having a cutter chain ll movable thereabout in a closed orbital path. Said trunnion supports, together with suitable controlling means disposed at the rearward end of said motor (not shown) form a means for adjusting the angle of the cutting plane of the cutter bar with respect to the mine floor in a usual manner.

The frame 13 is provided with a. pair of parallel-spaced gibbed guides l8, 98 which are herein shown as depending from opposite sides thereof. Said guides are adapted to be engaged by a pair of corresponding parallel-spaced gibbed guides l9, l9 extending from a cutter frame 20. A retaining strip 2! is secured to the rearward sides of each of the guides l9, l9 and extends inwardly therefrom and engages suitable shoulders formed on the rearward sides of the guides l8, l8 for holding said guides in engagement with each other.

The cutter frame 20 has a cutter bar supporting member 22 journaled therein in a suitable manner (not shown) which forms a pivotal supporting means for the cutter bar so that it may be disposed for cutting along the mine bottom in front of and to each side of the track or may cut shown an arcuate kerf in the mine wall by movement of said cutter bar supporting member about its axis of pivotal connection to said cutter frame. A cutter chain drive sprocket Ila. is provided for driving the cutter chain H about the cutter bar I ii. Said sprocket is journaled in said cutter bar supporting member forwardly of said guides and coaxial with the pivotal axis of said frame in a usual manner and is driven from the motor l5 by means of the usual extensible drive connection which will not herein be described in detail.

Said cutter frame is moved along the guides i3, i8 towards and away from the frame 13 by means of an adjusting screw 23 pivoted to the forward end of said cutter frame forwardly of the sprocket l'la on a transversely disposed pin 24. The opposite end of said adjusting screw is threaded within a threaded sleeve 25. Said threaded sleeve is in tiun threaded within the hub of a worm gear 26 journaled in the frame It adjacent the forward end thereof.

The drive from the motor i5 to said worm gear for moving the cutter frame 20 and cutter bar it towards or away from the frame l3 includes a worm 21 meshed with said worm gear and mounted on the forward end of a longitudinally extending shaft 28. A shaft 29 is disposed coaxially with the shaft 28 and operatively connected with said shaft by a suitable connecting member in a usual manner. The shaft 29 is selectively driven from a longitudinal shaft 3%, which shaft also serves as a drive member for driving the cutter chain sprocket Na and for driving suitable mechanism for pivoting said outter bar about the axis of connection of the cutter frame 28 by power. The drive connection from said last-mentioned shaft includes a clutch member 3| of the usual construction, and a spur gear train, generally indicated by reference character 32. The longitudinally extending shaft 39 is in turn driven from the motor l5 by means of a spur gear train, generally indicated by reference character 33.

Referring now particularly to the means for equally distributing the weight of the cutter frame 20, cutter bar supporting member 22 and cutter bar It between the guides l8, l8 and adjusting screw 23 which forms one of the novel features of my invention, a transversely disposed torsion shaft 31 is journaled in the frame It forwardly of the sprocket Na and rearwardly of but adjacent the adjusting screw 23. The diameter of said shaft is such that it may equally distribute the load of the cutter frame 26 and cutter bar E6 to the frame l3 between its opposite ends without substantial twisting movement thereof during movement of said cutter bar towards or away from said frame.

A crank arm 39 is keyed to one end of the torsion shaft 3?, which end is herein shown as being the right hand end thereof when looking toward the forward end of the machine (see Figures l, 2, 5 and 6). Said crank arm extends upwardly and angularly rearwardly from said shaft when the parts are in the position shown in Figure 5 and has a connecting link 49 pivotally connected thereto and extending rearwardly therefrom. The rearward end of said connecting link is of a strap-like construction and has one lever arm 4! of a bell crank member 43 pivotally connected thereto between the sides of the straps of said link. Said bell crank member is pivotally mounted in the frame I3 on a pivotal pin 44 and has another forwardly disposed lever arm 45 to which is pivotally connected a depending link it. The lower end of said depending link is pivotally connected to a bracket 4'! extending upwardly from the cutter frame 20 on a pivotal pin 48. Said depending link moves substantially in a vertical direction during movement of said cutter frame with respect to the frame It and is so arranged that it is out of dead center position with respect to the bell crank member 43 during all phases of adjustment of said frames with respect to each other. Thus, movement of the cutter frame 20 towards or away from the frame I3 will cause rocking movement of said torsion shaft.

The connections to said shaft on the opposite side of the machine include a bell crank member 39 keyed to the end of said torsion shaft opposite the crank 39 (see Figures 1, 2, '7 and 8). Said bell crank member has a lever arm 50 extending upwardly and forwardly from said torsion shaft which has a link 5! pivotally connected thereto and adapted to depend therefrom. The lower end of the link 5! is pivotally connected to a bracket 53 on the cutter frame 20.

A lever arm 54 of said bell crank member extends upwardly and rearwardly from the torsion shaft 3? when the parts are in the position shown in Figure 7, and has a link 55 pivotally connected thereto and extending rearwardly therefrom. The rearward end of said link is pivotally connected to one lever arm 56 of a bell crank member 51. Said bell crank member is pivotally mounted on a stub shaft 59 extending outwardly from the frame I 3. Another lever arm 653 of the bell crank member 51 extends upwardly and forwardly from the shaft 59 when the parts are in the position shown in Figure '7, and has a depending link 5! pivotally connected thereto. The lower end of said link is pivotally connected to a bracket 63 extending upwardly from the cutter frame 2! The arrangement is such that the links 5| and 6| move substantially in a vertical direction and are out of a dead center position with respect to their respective bell crank members to which they are pivotally connected in all positions of adjustment of said frames with respect to each other.

It will be seen from the foregoing that the links 46, 5! and 6! are moved in parallel relationship with respect to each other by the crank member 39 and the bell crank members 43, 49 and 51 and the torsion shaft 3?, upon movement of the cutter frame 20 towards or away from the frame l3. Said shaft and links, together with said bell crank members, support the rearward end and opposite sides of the cutter frame 20 and transmit it to opposite ends of said torsion shaft. This shaft, accordingly, serves to equalize the load between the forward and rearward portions and opposite sides of the frame 20 and supports the rearward portion of said frame for movement towards or from the frame l3, and takes the load from the guides l8, I8 and I9, H? which prevents binding between said guides and renders said guides unnecessary, except to lend rigidity during cutting.

While I have herein shown and described one form in which my invention may be embodied, it will be understood that the construction and arrangement of the various parts may be changed or altered without departing from the spirit and scope thereof. Furthermore, I do not wish to be construed as limiting myself to the precise construction illustrated, excepting as it may be limited in the appended claims.

I claim as my invention:

1. In a mining machine of the class described, a base, a frame extending forwardly therefrom and a cutter bar supported for movement towards and from said frame in a pair of parallelspaced guides, means disposed forwardly of said guides for adjustably moving said cutter bar towards and away from said frame, and means for equalizing the load between said guides and adjusting means comprising a parallel link connection between said frame and cutter bar.

2. In a mining machine of the class described, a base, a frame extending forwardly therefrom and a cutter bar supported for movement towards and from said frame in a pair of parallelspaced guides, means disposed forwardly of said guides for adjustably moving said cutter bar towards and away from said frame, and means for equalizing the load between said guides and adjusting means comprising a torsion shaft disposed adjacent the forward end of said frame, a lever arm on each end of said shaft, and a linkage connection pivoted to each of said lever arms and having supporting connection with said cutter bar at points disposed adjacent said guides.

3. In a mining machine of the class described, a base, a frame extending forwardly therefrom and a cutter bar supported for movement towards and from said frame in a pair of parallelspaced guides, means disposed forwardly of said guides for adjustably moving said cutter bar towards and away from said frame, and means for equalizing the load between said guides and adjusting means comprising a torsion shaft disposed adjacent the forward end of said frame, and a parallel link connection between opposite ends of said shaft and said cutter bar.

4. In a mining machine of the class described, a base, a frame extending forwardly therefrom and a cutter bar supported for movement towards and from said frame in a pair of parallelspaced guides, means disposed forwardly of said guides for moving said cutter bar towards and away from said frame, and means for equalizing the load between said guides and adjusting means comprising a torsion shaft disposed adjacent the forward end of said frame and having a lever arm on each end thereof, rocking means disposed adjacent said'guides, a linkage connection between each of said lever arms and said rocking means, and a connection between said rocking means and said cutter bar.

5. In a mining machine of the class described, a base, a frame extending forwardly therefrom and a cutter bar supported for movement towards and from said frame in a pair of parallelspaced guides, means disposed forwardly of said guides for adjustably moving said cutter bar towards and away from said frame, and means for equalizing the load between said guides and adjusting means comprising a torsion shaft disposed adjacent the forward end of said frame, a pair of bell crank members disposed rearwardly of said torsion shaft adjacent said guides, one of said bell crank members being disposed on each side of said frame and each of said bell crank members having connection with an end of said torsion shaft, and a connection between said cutter bar and bell crank members for pivoting said bell crank members and torsion shaft upon movement of said cutter bar towards or away from said frame.

6. In a mining machine of the class described, a base, a frame extending forwardly therefrom and a cutter bar supported for movement towards and from said frame in a pair of parallellever arm of each of said bell crank members with said torsion shaft for rocking said torsion shaft upon rocking movement of said bell crank members, and connections between another lever arm of each of said bell crank members and said cutter bar for rocking said torsion shaft upon movement of said cutter bar towards or away from said frame.

7. In a mining machine of the class described, a base, a frame extending forwardly therefrom and a cutter bar supported for movement to wards and from said frame in a pair of parallelspaced guides, means disposed forwardly of said guides for adjustably moving said cutter bar towards and away from said frame, and means for equalizing the load between said guides and adjusting means comprising a torsion shaft disposed adjacent the forward end of said frame, a pair of bell crank members disposed rearwardly of said torsion shaft adjacent said guides, one of said bell crank members being disposed on each side of said frame, a rocking member on each end of said torsion shaft, a connection from each of said rocking members to one lever arm of each of said bell crank members, a connection between the other lever arms of said bell crank members and said cutter bar including a pair of links, and a link connecting one of said rocking members on said shaft with said cutter bar, whereby all of said links will move. in parallel relation with respect to each other upon movement of said cutter bar towards or from said frame.

8. In a track-mounted mining machine, a truck, a frame extending forwardly therefrom, a cutter frame supported for movement towards and from said frame in a pair of parallel-spaced guides extending from opposite sides of said frame adjacent the. forward end of said truck, a screw device mounted in said frame forwardly of said guides for adjustably moving said cutter frame towards or from said frame, a cutter bar projecting from said cutter frame and having a cutter chain movable thereabout, and means for equally distributing the load between said guides and adjusting screw comprising a torsion shaft extending transversely of said frame and a pair of rocking members spaced from said shaft and mounted on opposite sides of said frame, a rocking connection between said shaft and each of said rocking members and another rocking connection between each of said rocking members and said cutter frame.

9. A mining machine in accordance with claim 8, wherein the torsion shaft is disposed adjacent said adjusting screw and wherein the rocking members are disposed adjacent said guides.

10. In a track-mounted mining machine, a truck, a frame extending forwardly therefrom, a cutter frame supported for movement towards and from said frame in a pair of parallel-spaced guides extending from opposite sides of said frame adjacent the forward end of said truck, a screw device mounted in said frame forwardly of said guides for adjustably moving said cutter frame towards or from said first-mentioned frame, a

cutter bar projecting from said cutter frame and having a cutter chain movable thereabout, and means for equally distributing the load between said guides and adjusting screw comprising a torsion shaft extending transversely of said frame and a pair of bell crank members spaced from said shaft, said bell crank members being pivotally mounted on opposite sides of said frame, rocking connections between said shaft and bell crank members including a rocking member on one 'end of said shaft and a link connecting said rocking member with one lever arm of one of said bell crank members, another rocking member on the other end of said shaft and a link connecting said rocking member with one lever arm of said other bell crank member, and connections between the other lever arms of said bell crank members and said cutter frame, whereby movement of said cutter frame with respect to said first-mentioned frame will rock said bell crank members and shaft.

11. A mining machine in accordance with claim 10, wherein the torsion shaft is disposed adjacent the adjusting screw and wherein the bell crank members are disposed adjacent the guides.

12. In a track-mounted mining machine, a truck, a frame extending forwardly therefrom, a cutter frame supported for movement towards and from said frame in a pair of parallel-spaced guides extending from opposite sides of said frame adjacent the forward end of said truck, a screw device mounted in said frame forwardly of said guides for adjustably moving said cutter frame towards or from said first-mentioned frame, a cutter bar projecting from said cutter frame and having a cutter chain movable thereabout, and means for equally distributing the load between said guides and adjusting screw comprising a torsion shaft extending transversely of said frame and a pair of bell crank members spaced from said shaft and mounted on opposite sides of said frame, a rocking connection between said shaft and bell crank members including a rocking member on one end of said shaft and a link connecting said rocking member with one lever arm of one of said bell crank members, another rocking member on the other end of said shaft and a link connecting said rocking member with one lever arm of said other bell crank member, a link connecting one of said rocking members on said torsion shaft with said cutter frame and a pair of links connecting the other lever arms of said bell crank members with said cutter frame, whereby movement of said cutter frame will cause all of said links to move in parallel relation with respect to each other and rock said bell crank members and shaft.

13. A mining machine in accordance with claim 12, wherein the torsion shaft is disposed adjacent the adjusting screw and the bell crank members are spaced therefrom and disposed adjacent the guides.

14. A mining machine in accordance withclaim 12, wherein the torsion shaft is disposed adjacent but rearwardly of the adjusting screw and the bell crank members are spaced therefrom and disposed adjacent but forwardly of the guides.

15. In a, mining machine of the class described, a track-mounted truck, a frame extending forwardly therefrom, a cutter frame mounted for movement towards and from said frame, a cutter bar supported by and projecting from said cutter frame and having a cutter chain movable there- 'about, means for moving said cutter frame towards or from said first-mentioned frame, and

means for equalizing the load between said frames during movement of said cutter bar towards or from said first-mentioned frame including a transversely disposed torsion shaft mounted in said first-mentioned frame, a pair of rocking members mounted on said frame adjacent opposite sides thereof for pivotal movement about coaxial axes parallel to but spaced from the pivotal axis of said shaft, a connection between opposite ends of said shaft and rocking members whereby rocking movement of said rocking members will cause rocking movement of said shaft, and a supporting connection between said rocking members and cutter frame.

16. In a mining machine of the class described, a track-mounted truck, a frame extending forwardly therefrom, a cutter frame mounted for movement towards and from said frame, a cutter bar supported by and projecting from said cutter frame and having a cutter chain movable thereabout, means for moving said cutter frame toward or from said first-mentioned frame, and means for equalizing the load between said frames during movement of said cutter bar towards or from said frame including a transversely disposed torsion shaft mounted in said frame, a pairof bell crank members mounted on said frame adjacent opposite sides thereof for pivotal movement about axes parallel to but spaced from the axis of said shaft, a rocking member on each end of said shaft, a pair of links connecting each of said rocking members with one lever arm of said bell crank levers, and a supporting connection between the other lever arms of said bell crank members and said cutter frame.

17. In a mining machine of the class described, a track-mounted truck, a frame extending forwardly therefrom, a cutter frame mounted for movement towards and from said frame, a cutter bar supported by and projecting from said cutter frame and having a cutter chain movable th-ereabout, means for moving said cutter frame toward or from said first-mentioned frame, and means for equalizing the load between said frames during movement of said cutter bar towards or from said first-mentioned frame including a transversely disposed torsion shaft mounted in said frame, a pair of hell crank members mounted on said frame adjacent opposite sides thereof for pivotal movement about axes parallel to but spaced from the axis of said shaft, a rocking member on each end of said shaft, a pair of links connecting each of said rocking members with one lever arm of said bell crank levers, a pair of links connecting the other lever arms of said bell crank members with said cutter frame and a link connecting one of said rocking members with said cutter frame, whereby said links may move in parallel relation with respect to each other upon adjusting movement of said cutter frame and cutter bar and the weight of said cutter frame and cutter bar may be transmitted to said torsion shaft.

18. In a mining machine of the class described, a track-mounted truck, a frame extending forwardly therefrom, a cutter frame mounted for movement towards and from said frame, a cutter bar supported by and projecting from said cutter frame and having a cutter chain movable there about, a cutter chain sprocket for driving said cutter chain about said cutter bar, a pair of guides extending from said frame and disposed rearwardly of said cutter chain sprocket for guiding said cutter frame for movement towards or from said frame, a threaded shaft mounted in said frame and having connection with said outter frame for moving said cutter frame along said guides, and means for equalizing the load between said guides and threaded shaft comprising a transversely disposed torsion shaft mounted in said frame forwardly of said sprocket and adjacent said threaded shaft, a pair of rocking members mounted on said frame rearwardly of said sprocket and disposed for pivotal movement about coaxial transverse axes parallel to the pivotal axis of said shaft, a rocking member on each end of said shaft, a pair of links connecting said rocking members on said shaft with said first-mentioned rocking members, and a linkage connection between said first-mentioned rocking members and cutter frame.

19. In a mining machine of the class described, a track-mounted truck, a frame extending forwardly therefrom, a cutter frame mounted for movement towards and from said frame, a cutter bar supported by and projecting from said cutter frame and having a cutter chain movable thereabout, a cutter chain sprocket for driving said cutter chain about said cutter bar, a pair of guides extending from said frame and disposed rearwardly of said cutter chain sprocket for guiding said cutter frame for movement towards or from said frame, a threaded shaft mounted in said frame and having connection with said cutter frame for moving said cutter frame along said guides, and means for equalizing the load between said guides and threaded shaft comprising a transversely disposed torsion shaft mounted in said frame forwardly of said sprocket, a pair of bell crank members mounted on said frame rearwardly of said sprocket and disposed for pivotal movement about coaxial transverse axes parallel to the pivotal axis of said shaft, a rocking member on each end of said shaft, a pair of links connecting said rocking member on said shaft with one lever arm of each of said bell crank members and another pair of links for connecting the other lever arms of said bell crank members with said cutter frame.

20. In a mining machine of the class described, a track-mounted truck, a frame extending forwardly therefrom, a cutter frame mounted for movement towards and from said frame, a cutcer bar supported by and projecting from said cutter frame and having a cutter chain movable thereabcut, a cutter chain sprocket for driving said cutter chain about said cutter bar, a pair of guides extending from said frame and disposed rearwardly of said cutter chain sprocket for guiding said cutter frame for movement towards or from said frame, a threaded shaft mounted in said frame and having connection with said cutter frame for moving said cutter frame along said guides, and means for equalizing the load between said guides and threaded shaft comprising a transversely disposed torsion shaft mounted in said frame forwardly of said sprocket, a pair of bell crank members mounted on said frame rearwardly of said sprocket and disposed for pivotal movement about coaxial transverse axes parallel to the pivotal axis of said shaft, a rocking member on each end of said shaft, a pair of links connecting said rocking members on said shaft with one lever arm of each of said bell crank members, another pair of links for connecting the other lever arms of said bell crank members with said cutter frame and a link connecting one of said rocking members on said shaft with said cutter frame, whereby movement of said cutter frame with respect to said frame will move all of said links in parallel relation with respect to each other.

WILLIAM W. SLOANE. 

